Wall panel



April 6, 1965 R. c. DooLlT-rLE, JR

WALL PANEL Filed OCT.. 25

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United States Patent (Milice 3,l76,l32 Patented Apr. 6, 1965 3,176,432 WALL PANEL Russell C. Doolittle, lr., 4349 Bagley Parkway, Madison, Wis. Filed Get. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 146,869 4 Claims. (Qi. 5ft- 186) This invention relates to a building structure and more particularly to a Wall panel construction adapted to be used as the interior wall surface of a building to protect blanket insulation.

' A great many commercial and industrial buildings are being fabricated from metal r plastic panels secured to an internal frame or skeleton. In some applications it is esired to apply blanket insulation to the walls and roof of the structure to reduce the heat loss. The insulating material, which may be rock wool or ber glass, is generally paper backed and if it is not protected with an interior wall surface, the insulation will tear or be ripped 'n away.

The present invention is directed to a simple and inexpensive interior panel construction to be applied to the walls or roof` of a building to retain and protect the insulation. In a typical building fabricated from panels or sheets, the walls include a series of spaced vertical columns which are supported on the foundation and which are tied together by a series of horizontal Z bars. One flange of each Z bar is connected to the vertical column, while the other flange of the Z bar is connected to and supports the exterior panels which compose the outer wall surface of the building. A base angle or other support member is secured to the foundation and supports the lower edge of the panels.

A layer of blanket insulation is applied to the inner surface of the exterior wall panels and, according to the invention, a series of interior wall panels are secured to the framework and cover the insulating material. More specifically, the lower edges of the interior panels are provided with clips or lugs which engage the base support, or a lower Z bar, and the upper portions of the panels are flexible and snap into engagement with the upper Z bars to rmly hold the panel in position. The side edges of the interior panels overlap to provide a continuous interior wall for the building.

The panel of the invention is of simple construction and requires no auxiliary fasteners and can be readily assembled to the preexisting framework of the structure. The panels are merely slipped into place and the upper llexible retainer is snapped into engagement with the Z bar to firmly hold the panel in place. y

The interior panels serve to protect the insulation and also add strength and rigidity to the wall or roof structure.

n Other objects and advantages will appear in the course of the following description.

,The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a vertical wall of a building showing an interior wall panel locked in position and a second panel being assembled with the existing framework;

` FIG. 2 is a transverse section through the wall with the panel in position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section similar to FIG. 2 and showing a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section showing a modified form of the flexible retaining member; and

FlG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the retaining member of F IG. 6 attached to a panel.

The drawings illustrate a wall construction for a commercial or industrial building including a foundation l which supports a series of vertical columns 2 having a generally H-shaped cross section. A base plate 3 is connected to the lower end of each column 2 and is secured to the foundation by a plurality of bolts d.

The vertical columns 2 are connected together at spaced locations throughout their height by a series of Z. bars 5. The drawings show only a single Z bar but in the normal building a series of Z bars will be employed with the particular number depending upon the height of the Wall.

As best shown in FIG. 2, each Z bar includes a horizontal web 6, a downwardly extending flange 7 connected to one end of the web, and an upwardly extending flange 8 extending from the other end of the web. The flange 7 is connected to the columns 2 by bolts 9 while the flange ti is secured to and supports an exterior wall panel lll by means of bolts ll.

The lower end of each wall panel 1d is connected to the upstanding tlange of a base angle l2 by bolts 13, and the horizontal ilange of the base angle is secured to the foundation by bolts 14.

The external Wall panel lil is corrugated with the side edges of each panel overlapping the side edges of adjacent panels to provide a continuous exterior wall surface.

A layer of insulation l5 is applied to the interior surface of the exterior Wall panels l@ to reduce heat transfer between the interior of the building and the exterior. The insulation may be any of the common types such as rock Wool, glass iiber or foam plastic insulation.

To protect the insulation l5 from damage, a series 0f interior wall panels 16 are connected to the wall structure. The interior wall panels la are corrugated with the corrugations running vertically. The lower edge of each wall panel 16 is connected to the base anale l2 by a series of S clips 17 with one open end of the S clip fitting freely over the opstanding ange of base angle 12 and the other open end of the S clip supporting the lower edge of the panel 16.

The panels can be metal, plastic, wood or the like and can be lat or corrugated or provided with any other surface contour. It is preferred to employ corrugated panels for the corrugations provide increased strength for a given thickness of material.,

A ilexible or deformable retaining member 13 is secured to the upper edge portion of the panel 16 and is adapted to be snapped into engagement with the Z bar 5 to retain the panel in position. The retaining member lli is formed from a generally fiat piece of sheet metal and may extend a portion of the Width of the panel 16, as shown in the drawings, or it may extend substantially the full width of the panel.

The retaining member 13 is provided with a diagonally extending portion 19 and a connecting horizontal porwall structure, the. S clips 17 are initially installed on theA base angle 12 and the lower edgel of the: panel 16 is inserted into `the open end of the S clips. VThe retainlng member 18, isV then bent downwardly'and v.the panel fis pivoted toward the external wall with the retaining mem.-V

ber passing beneath the lip 23 of the Z bar. It is important, of course, thatV ythe `distance VA shown in FIG. 2

atwise beneath the web 6 ofY retaining member from movin/gV into position with the Z bar 5.

manner described with respect to members 1S and snapped The presentY invention provides a simple and inexpensive means for applying an` interior wall surface to'a building construction to protect the layer of msulatlon and provide added strengthand rigidity for the wall. The

panels may be readily slipped into place and locked without the use of Vany auxiliary fasteners or the like. By

, eliminating fastenersY and cutting or forming operations,

the panels can be quickly installed with a minimum of Y labor which thereby reduces the overall cost of the panel is less than the distance B'so that the panel can beV moved outwardly against the layer of insulation 15 when the retaining member 18 is deformed. j

After thepanel 16 is disposed iiatwise against themsulation, the retaining member 18 is released and it springs back into engagement with the Z bar yto firmly-retain the panel against the insulation. t .Y As best shown in FIG. 3, the Side edges of 'the panels 16 are overlapped to provide a continuous interior wall structure and the overlapping portions may be secured together by screws if desired.

In the normal building construction there may be a series of Z bars spaced throughout the heightof the wall in which case a series of panels 16 could be disposed between each pair ofrZ bars. When installingl the panels between the Z bars,l a series of clips 24 are employed toV connect the panels 16 and the lower Z bar of the pair. As best shown in FIG. 2, each clip 24 includes a U-shaped section 2S which rests on the flange 8 of the lower Z bar and also-includes a tail 26 which extends downwardly behind the flange 8 and prevents outward displacement of the clip. l Y Y WhileV the aboveV description is directedrto the use oi the panelsin a wall construction, it is contemplated that the panels may also be employedinthe roof, ceiling, oor or anyrother portion of aV building construction. The term wall as usedin the description is intended to includetany portion of the building and is not-limited to thev vertical side walls thereof.

' FIGURE-4 shows a second embodimentof the'invention in which the S clips 17 are replaced by Vav series of lugs 27 which are permanently secured in spaced relation to the lower edge ofthe panel 16. VTher lugs Y27 'are Welded to the outer surface of the panels 16 and are' adapted to tending portiona beam disposed generally parallel andl 'Y ing a series of generally vertical inwardly and outwardinstallation. Y

'Various Ymodes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the-scope ofr the following claims particularly pointing out anddistinetly claiming the subject matter regarded asthe invention.

VIclaim: Y v

lLyIn a building, aY foundation, a generally vertical support member mounted on the foundation, a base member secured to'theffoundation and having anfupwardly exin spaced vertical relation to the 'base member andy secured to said vertical support member, said beamr4 having an outer flange and a downwardlyk extending inner lilange spaced inwardly of said vouter tlange, an outer panel havly extendingconvolutions with the inwardly extending convolutions extendinginwardly of the building, iirst connect'ing means connecting the outer panel to the upwardly extending portion of said base member, second vconnect- 'l ing means'connecting the outer panelto the outer ange of the beam, an inner panel 'located inwardly of the outer panel and having a series of generally vertical inwardly and outwardly extending convolutions with the inwardly extending convolutions of the inner panel being disposed in alignment with the inwardly extending convolutions of the outer panel, third connecting means connecting the Y inner panel to the upwardly extending portion ofthe base member, and a flexible retaining member connected to the upper edge portion of the inner panel, Asaid retaining member having a deformable section extending'upwardly and inwardly at an angleto said inner panel in a direction away from the outer panel and' disposed in yieldable bearing engagement between thev inner ange of the beam .and the outer panel and holding the inner panel in position with respect to the outer panel.

2. The structure of claim l in which said third connect- Vingmeanscomprises a series of S-shaped clips with each extend behind the upstanding ange of theY base vangle 12 with the lower edge'of the panel 16 resting on the upper edge of the liange of the base angle.V The shape and function of the retainingmember 13' is identical Vto that described' above. i

FIGS. 6 land 7 show a n10-dined form of nexibie retaining member. In this embodiment the retaining member 28 is removably connectedto the upper. edge of the panel 15.- The `retaining member 28 includes a vertical section 29 which is located behind the Y Y y tion 30, a horizontal section 31'which extends outwardly from the'diagonal section and is disposed flatagainst the web 6 of Z bai 5, and a vertical Asection 32 whichextends downwardly from-horizontal section 31 and is disposed at against liange 7V of the taining member includes an outer member 33 which is connected to' diagonal section 30 by rivets 34. The-lower. end'of member133 is spaced from section 29 to ,provide a slot 35 which receives the, upper edge of panel 16.

' To assemble the panels, the Vrretaining Vmembers ZS'areY attached ,to the panels'. 16 by. inserting the upperY edge( of the panel into the-slots 35 of theretainingmembers.I The retaining members 28 are then deformedor bent in the panel 16, a diagonal sec-V Z ba'r n5.v In addition, the` reclipl having oppositely opening ends, one open end of eachclip being engaged with the .upwardly extending portion of the base member and the other open' end receiving the lower edge of the lower panel. n y

3. Thestructure ofY claim 1 in which said third connectfing means comprises a lug connected to the lower edge rst support member and having an outer flange and an 'portion vof ythe inner panel and is disposed between said upwardly extending portionof the base andthe outer panel to prevent inward displacement of the inner panel rwith respect to theouter panel.

v 4. In a building,A a supportingstructure, a rst support member secured ,to said `supporting structure, a second support member securedY to said supporting structure and disposed generally parallel and in spaced relation to said inner an'ge, said inner lllange being spaced inwardly relative to said outer flange and facing in a direction toward said rstsupport member, an outer panel having a series of inwardly and outwardly extending convolutions with the inwardly extending convolutions extendinginwardly connecting means connecting thev of 'theb'ui1ding,v rst outer panel to-sa'id i'lrst'support member, second connectmg means connecting the outer panel to the outer ange of the second support member, an Ainner panel located inwa'rdly'of the outer panel Vandincluding aseriesofinwardly androutwardly extending convolutionswith-the inward- Vly extendlngrconvolutions of the inner panel being disposed 5 in alignment with the inwardly extending convolutions of the outer panel, third connecting means connecting the inner panel to the first support member, a layer of insulating material disposed between said inner and outer panels, and a exible retaining member connected to 5 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 'Corbett et al 50-185 X Hensel 50-464 X Hammitt et al 50-250 X Gruber 189-34 Birdwell et al 20-4 BENJAMIN BENDE'IT, Primary Examiner.

WlLLIAM I. MUSHAKE, JACOB L. NACKENOFF,

Examiners. 

1. IN A BUILDING, A FOUNDATION, A GENERALLY VERTICAL SUPPORT MEMBER MOUNTED ON THE FOUNDATION, A BASE MEMBER SECURED TO THE FOUNDATION AND HAVING AN UPWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION, A BEAM DISPOSED GENERALLY PARALLEL AND IN SPACED VERTICAL RELATION TO THE BASE MEMBER AND SECURED TO SAID VERTICAL SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID BEAM HAVING AN OUTER FLANGE AND A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING INNER FLANGE SPACED INWARDLY OF SAID OUTER FLANGE, AN OUTER PANEL HAVING A SERIES OF GENERALLY VERTICAL INWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY EXTENDING CONVOLUTONS WITTH THE INWARDLY EXTENDING CONVOLUTIONS EXTENDING INWARDLY OF THE BUILDING, FIRST CONNECTING MEANS CONNECTING THE OUTER PANEL TO THE UPWARDLY EXTENDING PORTION OF SAID BASE MEMBER, SECOND CONNECTING MEANS CONNECTING THE OUT ER PANEL TO THE OUTER FLANGE OF THE BEAM, AN INNER PANEL LOCATED INWARDLY OF THE OUTER PANEL AND HAVING A SERIES OF GENERALLY VERTICAL INWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY EXTENDING CONVOLUTIONS WITH THE INWARDLY EXTENDING CONVOLUTIONS OF THE INNER PANEL BEING DISPOSED IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE INWARDLY EXTENDING CONVOLUTIONS OF THE OUTER PANEL, THIRD CONNECTING MEANS CONNECTING THE INNER PANEL TO THE UPWARDLY EXTENDING CONVOLUTIONS OF MEMBER, AND A FLEXIBLE RETAINING MEMBER CONNECTED TO THE UPPER EDGE PORTION OF THE INNER PANEL, SAID RETAINING MEMBER HAVING A DEFORMABLE SECTION EXTENDING UPWARDLY AND INWARDLY AT AN ANGLE TO SAID INNER PANEL IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE OUTER PANEL AND DISPOSED IN YIELDABLE BEARING ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE INNER FLANGE OF THE BEAM AND THE OUTER PANEL AND HOLDING THE INNER PANEL IN POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE OUTER PANEL. 